Floribunda rose plant named &#39;GRAfIr&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘GRAflr’ is a new and distinct  floribunda  type  Rosa  hybrid plant which is characterized by the combination of an upright to semi-weeping growth habit, excellent resistance to  Diplocarpon Rosae  and  Podosphaera pannosa,  nearly continuous flowering, strong yellow flowers edged red, a moderate rose fragrance, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation. The new cultivar is generally suited to landscape applications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/626,725 filed Feb. 6, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination:

The inventive variety of Rosa hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘GRAflr’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘GRAflr’ is a seedling selection which resulted from the controlled cross-pollination of an unnamed Rosa hybrid female breeding line (not patented) and an unnamed Rosa hybrid male breeding line (not patented). Both parents, developed by the same inventor and never commercially released, exhibited traits deemed commercially significant and desirable.

After many years of trialing, the female parent was confirmed to possess a combination of desirable traits such as very high resistance to rose black spot disease, complete resistance to powdery mildew, and having flower color strong yellow with outer petals edged red, borne on a bushy plant growing to 1.2 m tall and wide. The male parent was selected for use in breeding after trialing confirmed the presence of a modern flower color. During the spring of 2014, the female parent was emasculated and was manually pollinated with pollen from the male parent. In autumn of 2015, seed was collected from hips produced by the female parent and a number of seedlings were grown to a mature size, including the claimed plant. These progeny were further evaluated for desirable traits such as black spot disease resistance and original flower color, and in January of 2016 the claimed plant was first observed. In January of 2017, after further evaluation for desirable traits, the claimed plant was deemed to be garden-worthy and suited to widespread cultivation. It was given the denomination, ‘GRAflr’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual propagation of ‘GRAflr’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first performed in May of 2016 at the inventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. Through more than twelve subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Rosa cultivar ‘GRAflr’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘GRAflr’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAflr’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping         growth habit; and     -   2. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAflr’ exhibits excellent resistance to the         plant pathogen, Diplocarpon Rosae, commonly referred to as rose         black spot disease; and     -   3. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAflr’ exhibits nearly continuous flowering;         and     -   4. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAflr’ exhibits a double flower type; and     -   5. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAflr’ exhibits strong yellow flowers with a         red edge; and     -   6. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAflr’ exhibits flowers with a moderate rose         fragrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical juvenile foliage, mature foliage and bloom habit of a 6 month old ‘GRAflr’ plant grown outdoors at the inventor's commercial nursery in Highfields, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower coloration of ‘GRAflr’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements, made in January of 2018, describe averages of two own-root specimens of one year old ‘GRAflr’ plants. The plants were grown outdoors in a garden bed of a red krasnozem soil in full sunlight, at the inventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. No shade or supplemental light was provided. Temperatures ranged from approximately 17 to 35 degrees Celsius during the day and 7 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. Standard practices for irrigation, fertilizer and pest control were applied at appropriate times during the growing season. The plants were pruned three times during the growing season using accepted techniques for rose pruning.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘GRAflr’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 Fifth Edition except where common terms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘GRAflr’ and comparisons with the parents and the most similar commercial cultivar of Rosa hybrid are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-weeping.         -   Growth rate.—Approximately 6 months to reach 60 cm.         -   Dimensions.—60 cm tall and 50 cm wide.         -   Environmental tolerance.—Very good heat tolerance; cold             hardiness is unknown.         -   Disease resistance.—Excellent resistance to powdery mildew             (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and blackspot (Diplocarpon Rosae).         -   Propagation.—Technique — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to             initiate roots — About 13 days at approximately 21 degrees             Celsius at root zone and 18 degrees Celsius ambient             temperature. Time to produce a rooted cutting — About 25             days at approximately 21 degrees Celsius at root zone and 18             degrees Celsius ambient temperature. -   Root system: White fibrous roots with many root hairs extending from     lesser roots in a featherlike arrangement. -   Branches:     -   -   Branching habit.—Irregular branching from mature branches,             breaking first from the uppermost buds near the apex of each             shoot.         -   Quantity.—Numerous.         -   General dimensions.—Approximately 35 cm long; 1.5 cm in             diameter near the base and tapering to 1.0 cm.         -   Immature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.5 cm. Texture             and pubescence — Smooth and glabrous, with prickles. Color —             Near RHS 135D. Prickles — Density — Sparse to moderate.             Color — Near RHS N144A. Shape — Convex. Texture — Smooth.         -   Mature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 1.5 cm, after one             year. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and glabrous, with             prickles. Color — Near RHS 142A. Prickles — Density — Sparse             to moderate. Color — Near RHS N170A. Shape — Convex. Texture             — Smooth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate imparipinnate compound leaves.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 5 per mature branch.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf internode length.—4 cm.         -   Dimensions.—Approximately 12 cm long and 13 cm wide.         -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 3.0 cm long and 0.1 to 0.2 cm wide.             Color — Near RHS N144D and margined RHS 144B. Texture and             pubescence — Smooth and glabrous. Prickles — Present.             Stipitate glands — Not present.         -   Stipule.—Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 144B. Texture and pubescence — Smooth, glabrous.             Margins — Ciliate. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Winged. Prickles             — Not present. Stipitate glands — Not present.         -   Rachis.—Dimensions — 2.5 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS N144A. Prickles — Present. Stipitate glands — Not             present.         -   Leaflets.—Quantity — Five leaflets on axillary leaves.             Dimensions — Average size of the terminal leaflet is 6.5 cm             long and 5 cm wide. Shape — Ovate. Apex — Acuminate. Base —             Ovate. Margins — Serrated. Texture, pubescence and luster,             adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Texture,             pubescence and luster, abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous,             and glossy. Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface — Near             RHS 143B, with no anthocyanin intonations. Juvenile foliage             color, abaxial surface — Near RHS 141D, with no anthocyanin             intonations. Mature foliage color, adaxial surface — Near             RHS 141B. Mature foliage color, abaxial surface — Near RHS             142C. Venation — Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface —             Near RHS 141B, with midrib RHS 144C. Venation color, abaxial             surface — Near RHS 142D, with midrib RHS 144D. Petiolule —             Dimensions — 0.3 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color — Near RHS             N144A with no anthocyanin intonations present. Prickles —             Not present. Texture — Smooth. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers are clustered.         -   Blooming habit.—Almost continuous from October through June             in the southern hemisphere. Time to flower — 6 to 8 weeks             for a new stem to mature and flowering begins to occur once             a stem matures.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 4.0 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter.             Color — Near RHS N144D. Strength — Strong. Texture and             pubescence — Smooth, glabrous. Prickles — None present. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Size.—2.0 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter.         -   Color.—Near RHS 143D. -   Flower:     -   -   Calyx.—General — Comprised of five polysepalous sepals.             Diameter of calyx — 1.0 nm. Sepals — Color, interior surface             — RHS 138D. Color, exterior surface — RHS 142C. Dimensions —             2.5 cm long and 0.9 cm wide. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Flat             at union with receptacle. Quantity — Five. Pubescence —             Densely puberulent. Margins — entire. Stipitate glands —             None.         -   Corolla.—General shape of corolla — Cupped and             irregularly-rounded with a tight outer whorl. Rate of             opening — 6 days from bud to anthesis. Dimensions —             Approximately 6 cm in diameter and 4 cm deep. Fragrance —             Moderate rose scent. Lastingness — On the plant for 5 days             after anthesis. Persistence — Self-cleaning. Petals — Petal             count — Exhibits double flowers with approximately 16 petals             under normal conditions. Petal arrangement — Irregularly             rounded whorl at anthesis and aging to a loose whorl.             Dimensions — 3.1 cm long and 3.0 cm wide. Petal shape —             Obovate. Apex — Rounded. Base — Flattened, then obtuse.             Petal reflex — Slightly reflexed at apex. Petal margin —             Entire; slightly undulating. Texture — Soft. Aspect —             Formal. Petal color, upon opening — Upper surface — Near RHS             12A with margin near RHS 33A. Lower surface — Near RHS 20A             with margin near RHS 33A. Petal color, at anthesis — Upper             surface — Near RHS N25D. Lower surface — Near RHS N25D.             Fading — Near RHS N30A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Anthers — Shape —             Narrow ovate. Length — 0.1 cm. Color — Near RHS 21B. Pollen             — Many. Pollen Color — Near RHS 3A. Filaments — Color — Near             RHS N25D. Length — Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Pistils.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Length — Approximately             1.0 cm. Stigma — Shape — Ovate. Color — Near RHS 11B. Style             — Length — Approximately 0.8 cm long. Color — Near RHS 18C.         -   Ovary.—Dimensions — 0.5 cm long and 0.3 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 3D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape — Pitcher-shaped. Dimensions — 0.5 cm high             and 0.5 cm wide. Color — Near RHS 141D. -   Hip and seed:     -   -   Hip.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm             wide. Texture — Smooth. Color — Near RHS 141B.         -   Seed.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm             wide. Color — Near RHS 144D.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

The new rose plant ‘GRAflr’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed and unpatented breeding line, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAflr’ exhibit a distinct strong yellow with         petals edged red, whereas the flowers of the seed parent exhibit         a yellow general tonality.     -   2. ‘GRAflr’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth habit,         whereas the seed parent exhibits an upright growth habit.

The new rose plant ‘GRAflr’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed and unpatented breeding line, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAflr’ are a strong yellow with red margins,         whereas the flowers of the pollen parent exhibit a purple         general coloration.     -   2. ‘GRAflr’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth habit,         whereas the pollen parent exhibits an upright growth habit.     -   3. Juvenile foliage of ‘GRAflr’ is glossy, whereas the juvenile         foliage of the pollen parent is matte.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GRAflr’ may be distinguished from the commercial variety Rosa hybrid ‘MEIsponge’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,802) by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAflr’ are a strong yellow with red margins,         whereas the flowers of ‘MEIsponge’ are white with red margins.     -   2. Foliage of ‘GRAflr’ is glossy mid-green, whereas leaves of         ‘MEIsponge’ are matte dark green.     -   3. ‘GRAflr’ has flowers with moderate fragrance, whereas         ‘MEIsponge’ flowers have no fragrance. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rosa hybrid plant named ‘GRAflr’, as described and illustrated herein. 